Jerry McDaniel Receives Siemer Award from Community Foundation

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Published on November 13 2018 8:28 pm
Last Updated on November 13 2018 8:30 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

(JERRY McDANIEL {left} RECEIVES HIS AWARD FROM RICK SIEMER)

The Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation Tuesday celebrated its 10th anniversary with an award and an announcement.

Local entrepreneuer Jerry McDaniel was presented the 2018 Richard C. Siemer Outstanding Philanthropist Award, with the presenter being none other than the award's namesake.

Nominations for the award are submitted on behalf of individuals, families or corporations who have demonstrated outstanding civic and charitable responsibility.

McDaniel, who has served as chairman of the foundation board the past two years, shared in his thank you remarks about the donation by he and his brother Jim of 34 acres of farmland to the Foundation. He said the Foundation needs to tap into the agriculture community. After encouraging others to contribute he said he felt the need to "put my money where my mouth is", so he spoke with his brother and his wife Madeline and they agreed to the donation. The Foundation now owns more than 500 acres of farmland, but McDaniel would like to see the amount grow to 1,000 acres within the next five years.

Greg Sapp talked with Jerry McDaniel about the award and how the Foundation continues to grow and what others can do to foster that growth...

(LEFT TO RIGHT, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PRESIDENT AND C-E-O JOEDY HIGHTOWER, MADELINE McDANIEL, JERRY McDANIEL, AND RICK SIEMER)

The evening celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the merging of the Effingham County Community Foundation with the Mattoon Area Community Foundation to become the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation. Foundation President and CEO Joedy Hightower shared a "Top 10" list that illustrated the theme "good grows here".

Big numbers were shared; from less than $1 million when the Foundation began, more than $18 million is now on hand. Even better, the Foundation has awarded more than $22 million in that time period. $1.3 million in contributions have been received this year.

It was also noted that funds have been generated to cover the operational costs of the Foundation; McDaniel said that if the staff has to spend much of its time raising funds to cover operating costs, then "the mission's not getting done". 

Special recognition was given Jim and Julie Hecht of Effingham for their contribution to the Legacy Society through the donation of their IRA, and to Robert and Marilyn McClean, now of Mattoon, of funds to establish the Coles County Peace and Justice Fund.

The announcement shared regarded the upcoming retirement of Joedy Hightower, who has been with the Foundation for 15 years, since the days of the Effingham County Community Foundation. Hightower remembered the contributions of the seven men who contributed monies to start the Foundation 18 years ago, and remarked on what has been accomplished since then.

Hightower will be retiring in December, the Foundation's Development Officer Amanda Lessley will be the new President and CEO.